CHAPTER 11. 



Decoying and TsAPriNG Animals. 



The decoying and trapping of birds, &c., is a somewhat delicate 

 subject to Handle, lest we degenerate into giving instruction in 

 amateur poacbing ; but tbe application of my direction I must 

 leave to tbe reader's own sense of fitness of time and scene, and 

 object to be snared. And now, before launcbing into my 

 subject, one word in season. Observe as a golden rule — never to 

 be broken — tbis : Do not snare, sboot, nor kill any more birds 

 or animals tban you absolutely want — in fine, do not kill for 

 killing's sake, or snare in wantonness. Let all you do bave 

 reference to some object to be attained, either to procure 

 specimens wanted for a collection, or, in cases of necessity, for 

 food. Bear tbis in mind, for, witbout sympathy with creatures 

 fashioned in as complex and beautiful a manner as ourselves, 

 we can never hope to be true naturalists, or to feel a thrill 

 of exquisite pleasure run through us when a new specimen 

 falls to our prowess. How can we admire its beauty when 

 alive, or feel a mournful satisfaction at its death, if we are 

 constantly killing the same species of bird for sport alone ? 



Another thing : kill a wounded bird as quickly and humanely 

 as possible, which you may always do by pressing its breast 

 just under the wings with your finger and thumb, bearing 

 the whole weight of the palm of the hand on the sternum 

 or breast-bone, and gradually increasing the pressure until 

 life is extinct. This plan suffices for even the larger birds, 

 provided you can find a means of holding them firmly while 

 you employ both hands in the manner previously indicated. 



Again: if collecting eggs, be content with half the sitting 



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